A small little village, Somnathpur, which is 35 kilometres away from the city of Mysore, is home to the majestic Chennakeshava Temple. Built by Somanth, a high ranking officer under the Hoysala King Narasimha III, it follows the Hoysala style of architecture. This temple was built in 1268.  

This temple has an iconic architectural structure and style. It is absolutely breathtaking to look at. The architectural style is incredibly intricate. The entire temple is carved out on a black coloured stone. That is the only colour used in the entire temple; this brings out a sense of elegance and panache to the design of the temple.

There is a large star-shaped base, on which the main temple is placed. The temple has triangular structures that protrude from the sides. The sides of the main temple have intricate and precise carvings of various Hindu gods, namely, Bramha, Vishnu, Narasimha, Devi, Krishna and more. The base of the temple contains carvings of horses, warriors, elephants and several other layers of exquisite carved work. The workmanship is so fine and precise, that it is quite fascinating that such a great quality of work was created during an era, where technology wasn’t developed to the stage it is to today. The structures are wonderfully symmetrical and perfect.

It is surrounded by three pyramidal vimanas. The interiors of the temple are again in a rich black colour. The architecture is as fine as the exteriors of the temple. The interior of the temple feels cool and comfortable, despite the external heat. This reflects the thought that has gone into choosing the material that is used. Here, the architects haven’t only focussed on decorating the surrounding walls or the idols. Equal amounts of care have gone into decorating the ceiling of the temple. The ceiling consists of concentric circles, each of which has a unique design.

The temple has been maintained in a supremely good shape. It is spic and span and there aren’t disturbing drawings on the walls of the temple.

This temple is most definitely worth a visit for history buffs, architecture buffs and just those, who want to experience fine works of art.